Politics and Insights from History

Another day.  Another Speech.  Barack gave his State of the Union address last Tuesday.  There was nothing special about this speech.  It was a rehash of all of his past speeches for the past three years.  Once again, Obama asked for more federal programs, created more federal agencies, more federal spending, more federal regulations, demanded that the States go along with his proposals, and demanded that Congress pass certain pieces of legislation.  Once again, Obama demanded that the government play an active role in the development of clean energy, something that is best left to private enterprise.  Once again, Obama participated in class warfare as he pitted the rich and poor against each with the tired mantra of the rich needing to “pay their fair share”.    Once again, Obama blamed Wall Street for the housing collapse when a bulk of the blame rests with Congress and the Federal government.

Obama’s State of the Union was full of meaningless fluff, but held little in specifics.  He spreads the lie that he saved the economy and created jobs, while many Americans wonder if they can get through on the next paycheck as prices on gas and consumer goods continue to rise.   Obama takes the credit for bringing change to the Middle East.  Though he neglects to mention that the Middle East is being overrun by radical Islamists who have little love for freedom or for Americans.  He wants to hand out free education, forgetting that someone bears the cost, and he wants to make illegals legal.

Obama talks about American values, but he does not know what our values are.  Barack Obama believes in a society where everyone earns the same, has the same amount of goods, works the same kind of job, has the same opportunities.  Barack Obama believes in the imaginary world of where everything is fair.  However, he doesn’t believe that he should be held back from his special opportunities.

Obama praised the military, but neglected to mention his cuts in the defense budget.

Obama made a lot of Demands of Congress, the States, and the people.  He did this while feeding his ego.

But there is a portion of this speech that concerns me and should concern every American.  Here Obama states:

“Some of what’s broken has to do with the way Congress does its business these days. A simple majority is no longer enough to get anything - even routine business - passed through the Senate. Neither party has been blameless in these tactics. Now both parties should put an end to it. For starters, I ask the Senate to pass a rule that all judicial and public service nominations receive a simple up or down vote within 90 days.

The executive branch also needs to change. Too often, it’s inefficient, outdated and remote. That’s why I’ve asked this Congress to grant me the authority to consolidate the federal bureaucracy so that our Government is leaner, quicker, and more responsive to the needs of the American people.”

Barack Obama is violating the Constitution by even making this request.  He is unilaterally changing the law of this land.  The way the Senate votes is laid down in Article One of the Constitution and cannot be changed unless both Houses of Congress choose to amend it.  For Obama to ask the Senate to change the way it votes is disturbing.  No president has done this before.  No president should do this.  The President and Congress belong to two different branches of government.

What is equally disturbing is Obama’s request for special powers that will allow him to unilaterally change the Executive Branch and the Federal Government.  This is not only unconstitutional, but it is wrong.  Nowhere does the Constitution allow the granting of special powers to the President.  Such a measure puts too much power in the hands of the President, in the hands of one person.

If Obama was granted this request, how long would he have this special authority?  Would he give it up?  This is dangerous ground and everyone should keep a careful eye on the Executive Branch, especially Barak Obama.  To even consider granting one man all this power is hazardous territory.

This is a path we as Americans must not tread.  It will only lead to our destruction.  Such measures are how people like Adolf Hitler came about.  This is how dictators get their authority.  They do not always take it by force.  Why, when people willingly give it to them?  This is the first step to turning the presidency into a dictatorship.  Do not grant the President emergency authority.  Doing so will sign the death certificate of American liberty.